Method for cross-connecting optical signals at high speed

ABSTRACT

A micro-machined mirror optical crossbar switch directs the light beams of input signal channels to selected output channels by manipulating the focal lengths of adaptive optical elements to ensure that the light beam of any given incoming channel is always focused at the position of the reflective device that is selected to switch that beam. This allows the reflective device to be smaller and switch faster and allows the number of output channels per input channel to be increased.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of communications has benefited enormously from the introduction of optical communications technology. Fundamentally, this technology exploits the inherent bandwidth potential of the light itself as a carrier. As this technology matures, the need for the direct optical processing of the signals is becoming greater. Much of the communications infrastructure in operation in the field relies on signals being converted back to electrical form for much of the processing and management. Direct optical processing has the benefit of avoiding the need for such conversion equipment with its associated costs, losses and amplification requirements.

[0002] One of the fundamental building blocks of an optical communications system is the optical cross-connect or optical crossbar switch. These devices function to selectably connect any one of an array of incoming optical signals to any one of an array of outgoing channels. Inherently these devices consist of a multiplicity of optical communications channels that are often implemented on one semiconductor device wafer using micro-machining technology.

[0003] A variety of specific individual device structures have been proposed and fabricated to address this application. While many of these rely on non-linear optic materials to obtain switching actions, a very popular way to achieve this end at the time of this application for letters patent is by means of micro-electromechanical structures. These are usually micro-mirror devices that tilt, flex, or flip upon application of an appropriate control voltage.

[0004] Most typically, these devices have two states, one of which causes an incoming beam of light to bypass the mirror, by flipping the mirror down or out of the way, and a second position in which the mirror is interposed in the path of the beam so as to reflect it into some or other desired direction in order to couple the optical beam into an output channel, usually via a micro-lens and optical fiber arrangement.

[0005] Since one of the very strengths of optical communications is the very wide bandwidth that it makes possible, there is every incentive to ensure that the switching devices are commensurately fast, as this determines the rate at which routing and managed networking of the communication may be achieved.

[0006] At device level, this creates a requirement for the reflective elements to have the highest possible natural resonant frequency. While materials choice for the reflective element can help to make this frequency as high as possible, the very size of the mirror structure is a core issue. The reflective element needs to be as small as possible.

[0007] This requirement presents a problem in that the small apertures involved in the cores of the optical fibers carrying the light signal lead to considerable beam divergence, which is typically addressed via micro-lenses to collimate the emerging beam. However, this collimation is also inherently limited by the aforementioned aperture dimensions with the result that it is very difficult to maintain very narrow beam widths across the lateral extent of a multi-channel crossbar switch. The mirrors therefore have to be larger than the beam width in order to reflect most of the incident beam. This requirement for larger mirrors is contrary to the need for high speed switching.

[0008] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method by which the light beams in an optical cross-connect or crossbar switch may be manipulated is such a way as to provide the maximum reflected optical signal whilst still providing the smallest possible mirror dimensions and highest associated switching speed.

[0009] It is a further objective of the present invention to make possible the fabrication of crossbar-switches with larger numbers of channels.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A micro-machined mirror optical crossbar switch directs the light beams of input signal channels to selected output channels by manipulating the focal lengths of adaptive optical elements to ensure that the light beam of any given incoming channel is always focused at the position of the reflective device that is selected to switch that beam. This allows the reflective device to be smaller and switch faster and allows the number of output channels per input channel to be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 shows an optical crossbar switch as per the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows an optical crossbar switch as per an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0013]FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention as a 3×3 optical crossbar switch, comprising three input channels along the bottom horizontal and three output channels along the left vertical. The crossbar switch has individually addressable micro-machined mirrors arranged in three rows and three columns with three mirrors in a column per input channel. The invention is particularly useful for larger crossbar switches, from 10×10 to 1000×1000, however a 3×3 example is shown here for the sake of clarity.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 1, an input signal light beam 1 enters the crossbar switch through the core of optical fiber 2. Due to the very small optical aperture represented by the core of the fiber, the beam 1 has very large divergence as shown in FIG. 1. This divergent light is collected and focused by micro-lens 3. Micro-machined reflective membrane device 4 is employed to adjust the focal point of input signal light beam 1. Such devices are well-known in the art of micromachining and adaptive mirrors and need not be detailed here. They are commercially available from companies such as Flexible Optical B.V. of Delft, the Netherlands.

[0015] When mirror 5 is selected in order to direct input signal light beam 1 into output optical fiber 9, micro-machined mirror 5 is flipped into the upright position. In this position it intercepts input signal light beam 1 and reflects it to micro-machined reflective membrane device 7, which is adjusted to refocus the reflected light beam through fixed focal length micro-lens 8, such that the reflected light beam has the appropriate convergence for optimal coupling to optical fiber 9.

[0016] In this application for letters patent, the micro-machined mirrors are flipped into and out of reflecting positions. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that there is a variety of mechanisms by which these mirrors might be moved to serve the same function., including various forms of rotation and translation. Flipping them up or down has been selected for the preferred embodiment of the present invention because this method is both simple and proven. Optical cross-connects (or crossbar switches) using micromachined mirrors are well-known in the art and need not be detailed here any further. They are commercially available from companies such as Lucent Technologies of Murray Hill, N.J.

[0017] When micro-machined mirror 5 is selected to switch input signal light beam 1, all other micro-machined mirrors 6, 10, and 11 along the path of input signal light beam 1 are flipped down, or out of the way, to ensure that the maximal throughput of input signal light beam 1 is obtained. Micro-machined reflective membrane devices 4 and 7 are adjusted in tandem such that they ensure that input signal light beam 1 is focused on the micro-machined mirror 5 by micro-machined reflective membrane device 4, while micromachined reflective membrane device 7 simultaneously ensures that this reflected light beam is gathered and re-focused such that it couples efficiently to optical fiber 9. Clearly the other two input channels may be directed to the remaining two output channels in the exact same way by two other micro-machined mirrors appropriately selected from the remaining two columns of mirrors in FIG. 1.

[0018] When the signal from optical fiber 2 needs to be coupled to an output optical fiber other than optical fiber 9, micro-machined mirror 5 is flipped down and the relevant one of the other two micro-mirrors in the same vertical column in FIG. 1 is flipped into position to intercept input signal light beam 1 such that it may be directed to the intended output optical fiber. Micro-machined reflective membrane device 4 is adjusted to ensure that the focal point of input signal light beam 1 now coincides with the position of the flipped up micro-machined mirror. This focal point will be either closer to or further from micromachined reflective membrane device 4, depending on which of the other two micromachined mirrors is selected. At the same time, the output micro-machined reflective membrane device in the same row as the selected micro-machined mirror is adjusted to ensure that the reflected light beam is again focused for optimum coupling to the relevant output optical fiber.

[0019] By the method described here any one of the three input micro-machined reflective membrane devices in FIG. 1 may be paired with any one of the three output micromachined reflective membrane devices and the micro-machined mirror at the intercept of the relevant row and column in FIG. 1, thereby to couple any input channel to any output channel. At the same time the user is assured of the smallest possible light spot size on the micro-machined mirror. As a result the micro-machined mirror needs only to be slightly larger than the focused light spot. The size of this spot is determined by the diameter of the core of optical fiber and the focal length of the combination of micro-lens lens 3 and micro-machined reflective membrane device 4. Ultimately it is limited by the wavelength of the light employed. This much-reduced size of the micro-machined mirror is the source of greatly improved mirror switching speed due to the much-reduced natural oscillation frequency of the mirror.

[0020] Since the motion of the mirrored surfaces in devices 4 and 7 are much smaller than the motions of mirrors 5, they do not limit the switching speed. While a mirror 5 typically requires milliseconds to move, mirror 4 can move in microseconds.

[0021] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 2, a 3×3 optical crossbar switch comprises three input channels along the bottom horizontal and three output channels along the left vertical. The crossbar switch has individually addressable micro-machined mirrors arranged in three rows and three columns, with three mirrors per column for each input channel.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, an input signal light beam 101 enters the crossbar switch through the core of optical fiber 102. Due to the very small optical aperture represented by the core of the fiber, the beam 101 has very large divergence as shown in FIG. 2. This divergent light is collected and focused by micro-lens 103. Micro-machined membrane lens device 104 is employed to adjust the focal point of input signal light beam 101.

[0023] When mirror 105 is selected in order to direct input signal light beam 101 into output optical fiber 109, micro-machined mirror 105 is flipped into the upright position. In this position it intercepts input signal light beam 101 and reflects it to micro-machined membrane lens device 107. Micro-machined membrane lens device 107 is adjusted to refocus the reflected light beam through fixed focal length micro-lens 108, such that the reflected light beam has the appropriate convergence for optimal coupling to optical fiber 109.

[0024] When micro-machined mirror 105 is selected to switch input signal light beam 101, all other micro-machined mirrors 106, 110, and 111 along the path of input signal light beam 101 are flipped down, or out of the way, to ensure that the maximal throughput of input signal light beam 101 is obtained. Micro-machined membrane lens devices 104 and 107 are adjusted in tandem such that they ensure that input signal light beam 101 is focused on the micro-machined mirror 105 by micro-machined membrane lens device 104 while micro-machined membrane lens device 107 simultaneously ensures that this reflected light beam is gathered and re-focused such that it couples efficiently to optical fiber 109. Clearly, the other two input channels may be directed to the remaining two output channels in the exact same way by two other micro-machined mirrors appropriately selected from the remaining two columns of mirrors in FIG. 2.

[0025] When the signal from optical fiber 102 needs to be coupled to an output optical fiber other than optical fiber 109, micro-machined mirror 105 is flipped down and the appropriate micro-mirror, located in the same vertical column, is flipped into position, intercepting input signal light beam 101 such that it may be directed to the intended output optical fiber. Micro-machined membrane lens device 104 is adjusted to ensure that the focal point of input signal light beam 101 now coincides with the position of the selected micro-machined mirror. This focal point will be either closer to or further from micro-machined membrane lens device 104, depending on which of the other two micromachined mirrors is selected. At the same time, the output micro-machined reflective membrane device in the same row as the selected micro-machined mirror is adjusted to ensure that the reflected light beam is again focused for optimum coupling to the relevant output optical fiber.

[0026] By the method described here any one of the three input micro-machined membrane lens devices in FIG. 2 may be teamed with any one of the three output micro-machined membrane lens devices using the micro-machined mirror at the intercept of the relevant row and column in FIG. 2, thereby allowing the coupling of any input channel to any output channel. At the same time the user is assured of the smallest possible light spot size on the micro-machined mirror. As a result the micro-machined mirror needs only to be slightly larger than the focused light spot. The size of this spot is determined by the diameter of the core of optical fiber and the focal length of the combination of micro-lens 103 and micro-machined reflective membrane device 104. Ultimately it is limited by the wavelength of the light employed. This much-reduced size of the micro-machined mirror is the source of greatly improved mirror switching speed due to the much-reduced natural oscillation frequency of the mirror.

[0027] In order for the 3×3 crossbar-switch of FIG. 2 to optimally exploit this improved micro-mirror switching speed, the micro-machined membrane lens devices 104 and 107 must also switch at correspondingly high speeds. To this end, they are fabricated using micromachining, and are themselves micro-miniaturized in order to maximize their speed.

[0028] In the case of both the preferred and alternative embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively, membrane devices comprising stressed circular membranes attached to a substrate by their perimeter, are preferred over unstressed membranes, as the stressed configuration is conducive to high-speed operation of the devices. Both embodiments also may be implemented using position feedback systems.

[0029] In a more general case, the mirrors are not micromachined and are not part of monolithic arrays, but are rather fabricated as discrete devices and the micro-machined reflective membrane devices and micromachined membrane lenses are also discrete devices or individually fabricated. In this respect, it is also possible to use liquid crystal lenses. In this application for letters patent, we refer to the generalized focusing device employed in this way in the present invention as an adaptive optical element. The adaptive optical elements employed in the present invention may therefore, in particular but not exclusively, be variable mirror devices or variable lens devices. The general requirement is that their focal length be adjustable. In the general case, the reflective devices performing the actual switching of the input channel light beam are referred to as selectable reflective optical elements.

[0030] All of these different embodiments may also be extended to crossbar switches where the number of input channels is not necessarily equal to the number of output channels.

[0031] Since, by virtue of the present innovation, the input light beam reflected by a selected mirror is always focused on that particular mirror, the problems of collimation over comparatively long distances that are experienced with prior art crossbar switches do not apply. The number of channels of the crossbar switch may therefore be increased. This is limited only by the range over which the variable membrane devices may be focused.

[0032] There has thus been outlined the important features of the invention in order that it may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the design of other apparatus for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is most important, therefore, that this disclosure be regarded as including such equivalent apparatus as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for increasing the number of optical channels in an optical crossbar switch with a plurality of selectable reflective optical switching elements, said method comprising a. focusing a selected input light beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element and b. selecting a second reflective optical switching element c. focusing a said selected input light beam on said second selected reflective optical switching element.
 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said focusing comprises varying the focal length of an adaptive optical element.
 3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable mirror device.
 4. A method as in claim 2, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable lens.
 5. A method for increasing the switching speed of an optical crossbar switch with a plurality of selectable reflective optical elements, said method comprising a. focusing a selected input light beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element and b. selecting a second reflective optical switching element c. focusing a said selected input light beam on said second selected reflective optical switching element.
 6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said focusing comprises varying the focal length of an adaptive optical element.
 7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable mirror device.
 8. A method as in claim 6, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable lens.
 9. A method for redirecting a light beam in an optical crossbar switch with a plurality of selectable reflective optical elements, said method comprising a. focusing a selected input light beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element and b. selecting a second reflective optical switching element c. focusing a said selected input light beam on said second selected reflective optical switching element.
 10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said focusing comprises varying the focal length of an adaptive optical element.
 11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable mirror device.
 12. A method as in claim 10, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable lens.
 13. A method for reducing the size of a reflective optical switching element in an optical crossbar switch with a plurality of selectable reflective optical elements, said method comprising a. focusing a selected input light beam on a first selected reflective optical switching element and b. selecting a second reflective optical switching element c. focusing a said selected input light beam on said second selected reflective optical switching element.
 14. A method as in claim 13, wherein said focusing comprises varying the focal length of an adaptive optical element.
 15. A method as in claim 14, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable mirror device.
 16. A method as in claim 14, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable lens.
 17. A method for varying the focal point of an input signal light beam in an optical crossbar switch with a plurality of selectable reflective optical elements by varying the focal length of an adaptive optical element.
 18. A method as in claim 17, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable mirror device.
 19. A method as in claim 17, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable lens.
 20. A method as in any one of claim 4, claim 8, claim 12, or claim 19, wherein said variable lens is a variable micro-machined membrane lens.
 21. An optical crossbar switch for switching input light beams, comprising a. at least one adaptive optical element with variable focal length and b. a plurality of selectable reflective optical elements, said selectable reflective optical elements being alternately selectable and interposable in the path of a selected input light beam and more than one of said selectable reflective optical elements being located within the range over which said adaptive optical element is capable of focusing said selected input light beam.
 22. An optical crossbar switch as in claim 21, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable mirror device.
 23. An optical crossbar switch as in claim 21, wherein said adaptive optical element comprises a variable lens.
 24. An optical crossbar switch as in claim 23, wherein said variable lens is a variable micro-machined membrane lens. 